Don't Break My Heart (Return to Redemption, Book 6) Read Free Page B

would be tough since my mom’s been
dead for two years.” Haley suddenly noticed Trisha and Frankie standing there
and frowned. “Ms. Mason, Ms. Conner. What’re you doin’ here?”
    “We just went through all that,” Dani told her, explaining
Frankie’s relationship to the groom and that Trisha was her plus-one.
    “I like the highlights, Ms. Mason,” Haley gave her a thumbs
up. “You look hot.”
    “Thanks.” She waved toward Haley’s long tresses. “I would
kill for hair as thick and shiny as yours. Why do you want to mess it up with
bright pink streaks?”
    “I dunno.” Haley shrugged. “Just to do somethin’ different,
I guess.”
    “I’m sure if you ask Dani’s mom, she’ll come with you and
give her permission.”
    “Or you could
pretend to be my mom.”
    Trisha raised her hands and backed up. “No way. I’m not your
guardian.”
    Haley gathered a hank of her dark locks in her hand and
studied the ends. “You really think my hair’s beautiful?”
    “You bet. I’d love to have shiny dark waves like the two of
you. Blond hair looks so dull.” Combined with her fair complexion, she’d always
felt drab and colorless.
    “But blondes are supposed to have more fun, aren’t they?”
Haley asked.
    “They’re also supposed to be D-U-M-B,” Dani reminded her
friend. “But Ms. Mason doesn’t qualify.”
    “Thanks. As for the fun part, you can’t prove it by me. I
lead a pretty boring life.”
    “Not tonight.” Frankie nudged her in the ribs and grinned.
“There’ll be nothing boring about your evening. Come on, let’s have our nails
done. I’m getting a gel manicure so I don’t ruin it when I have to stuff my
ample butt into my Spanx tonight.”
    Trisha gestured toward the five occupied manicurist
stations. “We’d better start with our feet. We’ll see you at the wedding,
girls. Have fun.”
    “You, too,” Dani called back to her.
    “Oh-my-gosh,” Haley giggled, whispering loud enough for
Trisha to still hear. “She actually came as Ms. Conner’s plus-one ? Do you think they’re, you know.... lesbians?”
    Trisha froze in her tracks and grabbed Frankie’s arm.
    “Maybe,” Dani responded. “They do eat lunch together a lot. Now aren’t you glad you came with us
and didn’t miss this?”
    “Yeah. I guess so.”
    “Ryan and his friends are gonna be so bummed when they hear
hottie, Ms. Mason, bats for the other team.”
    “Nah, they’re guys. They’ll just fantasize about watchin’ her instead of doin ’ her,” Haley predicted.
    Trisha turned to Frankie and whispered, “Did you hear what
they just said?”
    “Yup. Just keep walkin’, girlfriend. The truth will become
clear when they see you cozying up to BJ on the dance floor tonight.”
    True. Either then, or when her belly swelled in another
month. Although, the girls just might realize she could’ve used a sperm donor
and wonder if Frankie and she were planning to raise her baby together.

CHAPTER
2
    Breaking with tradition, the cocktail hour had been held at
BJ Elliott’s mansion before the
wedding, during which time the guests had enjoyed a lavish assortment of hot and
cold hors d’oeuvres with their drinks.
    Justin rolled his eyes at his brother, Nick, and Dani’s
boyfriend, Ryan, while they waited in the reception line after the wedding,
listening to the girls rhapsodize about how beautiful the candlelit ceremony
had been against the backdrop of an immense Christmas tree and dozens of
poinsettias.
    All he’d thought about during the service was how the local
fire marshal would feel about hundreds of candles burning all around the
ballroom.
    “Wasn’t it adorable when Annie and Tyler’s kids walked Luke
and Sabrina’s puppies down the aisle,” Dani gushed to Ryan.
    “I know.” Haley laughed, hugging herself. “I love the little
tuxedo and red velvet bridesmaid’s gown Dusty and Mopsy are wearing”
    “This afternoon, Annie mentioned her son complained about
being the ring bearer,”